Daring to dream in difficult times
I MUST admit I’ve had somewhat of an on and off love affair with the FA Cup over the years, sometimes getting swept up by the sheer drama of it all, but more often than not in recent times being decidedly underwhelmed.
However, my passion for the age-old cup competition appears to be reignited.
Maybe it’s due to the times we find ourselves in – the minnows getting their big day in the sun seems more poignant at present.
For example, non-league Marine FC, who battled bravely but predictably succumbed 5-0 to Tottenham Hotspur, wouldn’t have been able to play the game they love at all but for the FA Cup, as they’re not considered elite enough to be allowed to line out at their own level due to current restrictions.
The Marine players were well aware that they had a mountain to climb when taking on the Premier League club, a bit like I’m feeling myself at the moment, knowing that the dreaded home-schooling must begin again after an extended Christmas hiatus.
I managed to make it through the spring of 2020 just about unscathed so I’m sure I can repeat the trick, even if my brain ends up more fried than a full Irish.
Like the Marine crew, I appreciate how good of a job the professionals do, although I’m willing to take up the slack until it’s safe for teachers and pupils to return to the classroom, and they can bring the cursed schoolbooks with them.
Speaking of literature and the like, the only thing that really stood out for me from the Marine versus Spurs match, apart from the locals enjoying a beverage or two in their back yards, was the fact that James Joyce, no less, was the only player to go in the referee’s book, and for a challenge on Dubliner Matt Doherty as well. Poetic justice indeed.
There may not have been even the slightest sniff of a giant-killing at Rossett Park as manager Neil Young and co. failed to rock the status quo, but League Two side Crawley Town certainly managed to hit the high notes in the earlier game covered by the BBC, as they sent Leeds United packing.
After controlling the second-half, the supposed minnows could even afford to bring on reality TV star Mark Wright, who is currently the subject of a BBC documentary, in the 90th minute.
Actually, such was their dominance, the former Liverpool defender of the same name, who retired in 1998, probably could have entered the fray and they still would have brushed aside a limp Leeds outfit.
Meanwhile, non-league Chorley continued their dream run in the competition as they beat an admittedly makeshift Derby County team, with the Rams decimated by a Covid-19 outbreak, with the Championship club having to take to the field minus their entire firstteam squad.
However, that shouldn’t take away from sixth-tier outfit Chorley’s achievement of reaching the fourth round, having previously seen off 2013 winners Wigan and League One side Peterborough in their last two outings in the competition.
Blackpool were another side to pull off a giant-killing of sorts, with the Seasiders, who ply their trade in League One, edging past top-flight strugglers West Brom on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
Manager Sam Allardyce probably won’t be overly concerned about being out of the cup as he focuses on keeping the Baggies in the Premier League, but given that his side have only scored two goals from play, both from central defender Semi Ajayi, since he took over, that’s a long shot at best.
In all likelihood one of the big guns will again lift the FA Cup, as although the Premier League giants may field weakened sides in the earlier rounds, all but two of the competitions in the past 25 years have been won by Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City or Liverpool, with the aforementioned Wigan and Portsmouth the only sides to buck the trend.
It’s a safe bet that a club already laden with silverware will lift the cup again in 2021, but this year more than ever, the likes of Crawley and Chorley should be allowed to dream.